Per Mertesacker stepped down from his role as a television analyst during the German national team’s Nations League match against Serbia, closing a six-year chapter with the public broadcaster ZDF before taking over as the German Football Association’s (DFB) managing director of sport on January 1, 2027.
Mertesacker Reflects on Transition to DFB Role
The former central defender, who won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, ends a broadcasting tenure that began in September 2020 when he succeeded Oliver Kahn on ZDF screens. Speaking at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Mertesacker acknowledged the magnitude of his upcoming office, where he succeeds the departing Andreas Rettig to oversee national teams and youth development at the DFB academy under a contract running through 2030.
“The task is very large,” Mertesacker said in his final broadcast. “I have respect for the task, but of course also incredible desire to come to Germany, to return so to speak, to be responsible in German football. That is something I have built up slowly over my youth, over my own career, and also over my path abroad.”
Klopp Greets His Future Boss Live on Air
The broadcast featured a lighthearted moment involving newly appointed national team coach Jürgen Klopp, who approached his incoming superior in front of the cameras. Klopp, who took over the managerial reins earlier in the qualification cycle, joked about the executive hierarchy ahead of the kickoff against Serbia.
“I welcomed him with ‘Boss’,” Klopp remarked on ZDF, drawing smiles in the studio. “I think he is my boss then—unless I’m mistaken. But I’m not quite sure. Probably so.”
Mertesacker noted that he has spent the past two months prioritizing family and friends after leaving his post leading the academy at Premier League club Arsenal. He stated that he plans to visit the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt for a few days to familiarise himself with staff before his official start date, emphasizing that he was not yet active in daily sporting decisions.
Breyer Recalls Years of Shared Broadcasts
ZDF presenter Jochen Breyer admitted to feeling the emotional weight of his colleague’s departure, describing a partnership that transcended standard broadcasting duties. Breyer told Bild that working alongside Mertesacker and co-analyst Christoph Kramer felt less like a formal studio production and more like watching a match with friends on a living room couch.
“Per was much more than an expert to me over all these years, much more than a colleague. He has become a really good friend,” Breyer said, highlighting Mertesacker’s humor and their traditional post-broadcast routine of eating spaghetti ice cream with extra whipped cream.
Christoph Kramer Works on per-Broadcast Honorarium Basis
While Mertesacker prepares for his executive transition, the contractual status of his long-time co-analyst Christoph Kramer remains unresolved. Bild reported that Kramer’s ZDF contract expired following the European Championship, leaving the 35-year-old former midfielder working on a per-broadcast honorarium basis.
Kramer, who interned under Mertesacker during the latter’s tenure overseeing Arsenal’s youth academy, praised his colleague’s preparation for the DFB post. “That is no cold start for Per,” Kramer noted on air, pointing to the administrative foundation Mertesacker established in London. Both broadcaster and analyst are reportedly discussing terms for an extension, with negotiations expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
Sammer and Peers Weigh in on the DFB Appointment
Former DFB sporting director Matthias Sammer offered a pointed assessment of the expectations facing the incoming executive. Speaking on the leadership transition, Sammer stated that he was waiting eagerly for Mertesacker to assume the helm and drive structural reform within the German federation, noting that the former defender must demonstrate strict authority in Frankfurt.
Mertesacker enters the role as part of a broader leadership adjustment at the DFB, where he will coordinate youth pathways alongside Hannes Wolf while managing senior international operations.
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